Isaiah 45:14-46:13 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Isaiah 45:14-25. Let’s go!
Isaiah 45:14 (NIV)
14 This is what the LORD says: “The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, and those tall Sabeans– they will come over to you and will be yours; they will trudge behind you, coming over to you in chains. They will bow down before you and plead with you, saying, ‘Surely God is with you, and there is no other; there is no other god.'”
On verse 14: In verses 14-25 we see God speaking reassuring words to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, encouraging them to not give up seeking the LORD and to put their trust in Him regardless of whatever anyone else around them does.
Here in verse 14 in particular we see a picture of other nations recognizing the Lord as the one true God. The image of the Egyptians, Cushites and Sabeans coming over to the Jews in chains may sound like the Jews are going to imprison and enslave these other nations, but I think a better reading of this is that the Egyptians, Cushites and Sabeans will come to the Jews for help with their pre-existing chains. That is because idolatry produces bondage but where the Spirit of the LORD is there is freedom.
Isaiah 45:15 (NIV)
15 Truly you are a God who hides himself, O God and Savior of Israel.
On verse 15: What does Isaiah mean by “a God who hides himself”? Like a childhood friend, sometimes God will play hide and seek with us. He will intentionally call out to us, though it is not obvious where He is, hoping that we will seek Him out and find Him. Like a parent encouraging his kid to grow, sometimes He hides Himself to see what we will do. But though He may be a God who hides himself sometimes, the truth is that He is never far away.
Isaiah 45:16-19 (NIV)
16 All the makers of idols will be put to shame and disgraced; they will go off into disgrace together.
17 But Israel will be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation; you will never be put to shame or disgraced, to ages everlasting.
18 For this is what the LORD says– he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited– he says: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.
19 I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right.
On verses 16-19: From these verses we can learn the following truths:
– The salvation that the LORD gives is everlasting and without disgrace (v17). The salvation that idols offer is temporary and ends in disgrace (v16).
– God is the creator (v18). He formed this earth to be inhabited not empty.
– When you have a God who hides Himself, hoping you will find Him, seeking God is never in vain (v19). It’s always a good thing to seek Him.
– Also, God is full of truth and always speaks what is right (v19b). In Him is no deceit.
Isaiah 45:20-22 (NIV)
20 “Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save.
21 Declare what is to be, present it– let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.
22 “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
On verses 20-22: God calls out to the nations, telling them not to look to any idol but to look to Him, the one true God, for salvation. For no other god can save. Only the LORD.
Isaiah 45:23-25 (NIV)
23 By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.
24 They will say of me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.'” All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame.
25 But in the LORD all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult.
On verses 23-25: As verse 23 says, one day before the LORD every knee will bow. The question is only when and how. Will we willingly bow before God and humble ourselves before him, or will we rage against Him and in our pride be forced to bow? Those who refuse to bow before the LORD will be put to shame (v24), whereas those who place their hope in the LORD will be found righteous in God’s sight and will rejoice triumphantly (“exult”) (v25).
Isaiah 46:1-2 (NIV)
1 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts of burden. The images that are carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary.
2 They stoop and bow down together; unable to rescue the burden, they themselves go off into captivity.
On verses 1-2: Speaking of those who bow (45:23-25), God says that the two main gods of Babylon will bow before Him.
Isaiah 46:3-4 (NIV)
3 “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth.
4 Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
On verses 3-4: God promises to sustain and carry His people, just as He has since birth. Though their surroundings and circumstances may change, though they face uncertain times, they can count on Him, like a parent who never leaves them, even in old age.
Isaiah 46:5-11 (NIV)
5 “To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?
6 Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it.
7 They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Though one cries out to it, it does not answer; it cannot save him from his troubles.
8 “Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels.
9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.
10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.
11 From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.
On verses 5-11: Whereas the idols are mute, immobile, and lifeless, the LORD is the living God, the one true God (v5-9). Once again in verses 10-11 God says that He will send a man whom we calls a bird of prey from the Easter, Cyrus of Persia, to fulfill God’s purpose. God is sovereign and He will do whatever He wants to do.
Isaiah 46:12-13 (NIV)
12 Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness.
13 I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel.
On verses 12-13: This is a good description of the Gospel. When we were far from righteousness, God brought His righteousness and salvation near to us.
Thank You Father for being a God who reassures us, comforts us, and gives us hope just when we need it the most. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
